Sri Lanka Tourism recently arranged a local media FAM tour for high profile bloggers & social media influencers from Canada, Australia and USA. The sole intention of arranging this tour was to promote Sri Lanka as a popular travel destination across the globe via social media.

The bloggers consisted of Allan Dixon, a social media influencer from Canada with a large number of active followers on Instagram and Face book. Michael Turtle , a multi-award winning Australian travel blogger has over hundred thousand monthly visitors to his www.timetravelturtle.com website. A US family travel & lifestyle blogger Stefanie Fauquet, who owns the owner of www.mommymusings.com has her own travel blogging site, and also an active fan base of twitter and Instagram followings.

Michael Turtle (Aus), Stefanie Fauquet (US), Allan Dixon (Canada)

The group was given an exclusive opportunity to explore the island including the Dutch Fortress, Galle, Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and experience the excitement by taking part of various adventure activities including White water rafting, Wild Safari, River boat safari, hiking in the highlands. The bloggers also shared a Tea Plucking session & Sri Lankan culinary experience where they were given the opportunity to interview a local family.

At the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the officials of Pinnawala were given the opportunity to have a discussion with the bloggers to educate them about the Sri Lankan wild elephants, and the historical and cultural bond between them going back to the ancient times.

Bloggers official meeting with Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Mr. Sutheash Balasubramanium.

The blogger familiarization tour was supported by Mount Lavinia Hotel, Jetwing Hotels & Theme Resorts & Spas by providing accommodation for the bloggers. In 2017, Sri Lanka Tourism expects to invite several high profile blogger groups around the world covering various popular social media platforms and travel blogging sites. The areas of special focus have been given to family travel, lifestyle, culinary, adventure and sports.

The Bloggers experienced the Tea Plucking session at Nuwara Eliya

Tourism is one of the best examples to witness the greater influence of social media & bloggers when it comes to consumers’ decision making point. Thus, this attempt will be a unique opportunity to mark Sri Lanka as a world famous travel destination on the global map.

Bloggers visit to Mount Lavinia Hotel